Loom.



PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

C. F. PERHAM.

LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28. 1900.

2 sums-sum 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 773,587. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

0. F. PERHAM.

LOOM.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 28. 1900.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z 36 EINVENTEIR:

WTNEESES UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. PERHAM, OF LOWELL. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE TO PER-HAM-STICKNEY COMPANY, OF TE'WKSBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OFMAINE.

LOOIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,587, dated November1, 1904. Application filed .Lugust 28, 1900. Serial No. 28,280. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns F. PERHAM, of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to looms, and more particularly to theweft-fork mechanism in those looms in which the fork accomplishes otherfunctions than that of merely stopping the loom on the breakage orfailure of the weft. Where the fork is employed in connection with weftreplenishing mechanism, for instance, it frequently occurs that upon thestoppage of the loom, by reason of a broken warp-thread or for repairs,the attendant in the course of his work turns the loom a few picks or insome cases even a fraction of a pick and in so doing causes the fork tooperate the weft-replenishing mechanism, and in some classes of loomsthis actuation of the fork and weft-replenishing mechanism effects astarting of the loom automatically. In either case undesirable resultsoccurto wit, either the improper actuation of the weft-replenishingmechanism, with the consequent breaking out of the warp, and perhaps theharness, or else the injury of the attendant, who may be caught unawareswhile having his arm or hand in the path of the shuttle, the lay, orsome other movable part of the loom.

The present invention has for its object the provision of mechanism forautomatically preventing the actuation of the weft-replenishingmechanism or the fork when the power is cut off from the loom.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated upon thedrawings forming a part of this specification a device is connected withthe shipper-lever and operates in such a way that when the lever isthrown to an inoperative position to cut off the power or unclutch thedriving-pulley from the shaft the fork is likewise held in aninoperative position, whereby it is impossible for it to be actuated andto thereby cause the actuation of the weft-replenishing devices or othermechanism operated or controlled by or connected with the fork.

Referring to the said drawings, Figurel represents in plan View thefront end of a loom, all the parts being omitted with the exception ofthe lay, the breast-beam, and the parts mounted immediately thereupon.Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a rearview of the end of the breast-beam upon which the mechanism embodyingthe presentinvention is mounted. Fig. 4. represents a front elevation ofthe loom. Fig. 5 represents a front and rear section through the frontportion of the loom and shows the actuator for the fork. Figs. 6, 7, 8,and 9 illustrate the operation of the invention.

It will be understood that the invention may be employed in connectionwith any kind or style of loom and that although I have shown it inconnection with a particular form of weft-replenishing mechanism, yet Iam not limited to its application thereto and reserve the right toemploy it on looms containing other forms ofweft-replenishing mechanismor other mechanism actuated or controlled by the weft-fork.

On the drawings, a indicates the breastbeam of the loom, and b the laythereof. I

0 indicates the shipper-lever, mounted, as shown, at the end of the loomand connected with the rock-shaft c to operate the clutch mechanism.(Not shown.) The shipper-lever is adapted to be held outward by springs0 as usual. A

d indicates the weft-fork, which is pivoted at d in a slide (Z mountedin a suitable guideboX (Z The rear end of the-slide is connected by anarm a with the rock-shaft 0, arranged under the breast-beam a, saidrock-shaft having a hooked arm 6 adapted to engage and operate the levere of the weft-replenishing mechanism. Said replenishing mechanism formsno part of the present invention, it sufficing to state that saidmechanism includes a detent rock-shaft 0 which is operated by the arm 6through the medium of the cam-lever c and that by the rocking of thesaid shaft the shuttles are permitted to drop successively into theshuttle-box as occasion requires. Under normal conditions the hooked arme lies below and out of the path of the lever 0 but upon the rocking ofthe shaft 6, due to the actuation of the slide (Z a switch or deflectore is thrown into operative position across the path of the incomingshuttle, and a fresh shuttle is dropped by the detent mechanism into theshuttle-box, said shuttles being arranged in a pile in a reservoir orchute 6 The actuator which cooperates with the fork consists of an elbow-lever f',fulcrumed at f to a bracket underneath the breast-beam, saidactuator being operated by suitable mechanism, such as a cam on acrank-shaft adapted to engage a pivoted arm (not shown) connected by alink f with the said lever. The inner end of the fork is bentdownwardly, as at 0?", so as to engage the weft-thread when it is leftin the shed, and the actuator f is so timed that its end f movesforwardly under the bent end (Z of the fork immediately after the end(Z* thereof engages the weft-thread and is moved downwardly thereby. Incase of the breakage or failure of the weft-thread the end (P is notengaged, and consequently the actuator in its forward movement engagesthe hooked end (Z of the fork and carries it forward, thereby moving theslide and actuating the rock-shaft 6, with the consequent operation ofthe weft-replenishing mechanlsm.

As thus far described the mechanism forms no part of my invention, savethat it is combined therewith and is controlled thereby. As previouslystated, any other form of weftreplenishing mechanism may be used insteadof that which I have described.

The present invention con templates the employment of a device forpreventing the actuation of the weft-fork or the mechanism actuated orcontrolled thereby and in the present embodiment consists of a slide g,mounted to slide in guides g 9 upon the top of the breast-beam. At oneend the slide is formed with a loop through which the shipper-leverextends, so that when the said lever is thrown outward to stop the loomthe slide moves with it. The opposite end of the slide is bent obliquelyupward and rearward, as at 9 and then extends approximately parallel tothe rear edge of the breast-beam, as at g". The portion 9* projectsthrough the box 05 (see Figs. 7 and 9) and iinder the front portion ofthe fork (Z. It is bent at g to provide two operative portions g glocated in difierent,

horizontal planes.

When the shipper is in its operative posithe slide is moved with it tobring the portion 9 thereof under the fork, and said part by reason ofits being in a plane above that in which g lies holds the fork upwardand preventsit from dropping into operative position, as clearly shownin Figs. 6 and 7 In order to permit the movement of the slide d thelatter is slotted at 03, so that it may be moved relatively to the endg, passing through the slot.

From this description it is evident that when the shipper is moved toinoperative position the fork is so held that it is impossible for it tocause the actuation of the weft-replenishing mechanism or othermechanism controlled thereby, even though the operative actuate the loomby hand.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forthall of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use,it is declared that what is claimed is- 1. In a loom, the combinationwith weft-replenishing mechanism, of a shipper, and means for preventingthe actuation of the weftreplenishing mechanism when the shipper is inan inoperative position.

2. In a loom, the combination with a shipper, a weft fork, and anactuator therefor, of means for preventing the operation of theweft-fork by the actuator when the shipper is in an inoperativeposition.

3. In a loom, the combination with a shipper, a weft-fork, an actuatortherefor, and operative mechanism operated or controlled by saidweft-fork, of means coacting with the shipper for preventing theactuation of said operative mechanism.

L. In a loom, the combination of a shipper, weft-fork mechanism, and acam-slide controlled by the shipper for preventing the accidentaloperation of the weft-fork mechanism when the shipper is in aninoperative position.

5. In a loom the combination of a shipper, weft-fork mechanism, and adevice located on the breast-beam connected to the shipper and movabletherewith for preventing the accidental operation of the weft-forkmechanism when the shipper is in an inoperative position.

6. In a loom the combination of a shipper, weft fork mechanism, and. aslide on the breast-beam controlled by the shipper and adapted to holdthe weft-fork in an inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES F. PERHAH.

Witnesses:

M. B. MAY, E. BATCHELDER.

IIO

